A JUDGE told a drug-addicted thief he would give him no more chances after allowing a suspended jail sentence on him to continue.

Martin Kelly breached the sanction a matter of days after it had been imposed on him when he walked into a Sainsbury's supermarket in Darlington and stole £29 worth of meat and coffee.

His barrister Graham Brown told Teesside Crown Court that Kelly was “either sticking two fingers up at the system” or the theft in April this year was an indication of his degree of desperation.

Mr Brown said Kelly had stolen the items with a view to obtaining drugs. He also pointed out that he had already spent a month in custody.

Kelly, 50, of no fixed address, admitted shop theft and breaching a suspended sentence.

Judge Peter Bowers said he was prepared to go along with a recommendation from the probation service in Kelly's case.

He said he would continue to be subject to a 21-month suspended sentence and added a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

He said: “If you breach this I won't give you any more chances.”